Piano structure



Nov. 25, 1941. c. FARNY 2,263,839

PIANO STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 19, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l 15 x ,w p mmm q 23 v I Z 30 v l l7 1' i IN VENTOR. (r/m fkmwf NOV. 25, 1941. Q FARNY 2,263,839

PIANO STRUCTURE- Filed Oct. 19, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 v v )6 ZZ I '1' 7 5 m i r/i $1 Nov. 25, 1941. c. FARNY PIANO STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. (ff/L firm 2f 5/ Filed OGt.- 19, 1940 Patented Nov. 25, 1941 PIANO STRUCTURE Cyril Farny, St. Charles, 111., assignor to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, Cincinnati, Ohio,

a corporation Application October 19, 1940, Serial No. 361,811

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a piano structure including the fallboard for the keybed, and more particularly in respect to the casing and frame for a so-called miniature" or upright type of piano.

One feature of the invention resides in a frame for supporting the piano string plate, keybed and action consisting essentially of a vertical back support to which the string plate is secured and a forwardly extending keybed braced thereon and provided with front supporting legs for carrying the piano action, said frame being independent of the major portion of the casing.

A further feature of the invention resides in the casing consisting principally of a pair of end sections pivotally supported upon the back support for enclosing the end portions of the frame structure when in closed position and adapted to swing outwardly to expose the end portions thereof in open position, and coupled with a hinged top and front section similarly supported upon the back support adapted to expose the upper portion of the frame structure when in open position and form the intermediate portion of the casing between the end sections when in closed position. Thus, when the end sections and intermediate top section are pivotally swung to open position, the upper and end portions of the string plate and piano action are entirely exposed.

Another feature of the invention resides in the fallboard arranged to telescopically slide from closed to open position over the keybed.

A decided acoustical advantage resides in the above mentioned construction, such as will materially improve the tonal qualities of a piano of this type. The curved ends, in efiect, form a tone chamber. Furthermore, by being pre-formed in one piece of relatively thin, resonant plywood, vibratory action is imparted through the ends of the piano as distinguished from the usual rigid board end construction. This, in combination with the large opening in the keybed which comprises the lower front panel, results in a most noticeable improvement in tonal quality.

The structural advantage of this arrangement, in addition to making the interior of the piano more readily accessible, resides in the savings effected in constructing and producing a piano of this character. Thus, instead of the casing being built up in the form of a structurally unified cabinet, it may be formed in sections and conveniently assembled. The upright back support with the string plate secured thereto may form one section. The horizontal keybed frame and support with the keyboard and piano action assembled therein may form a second section readily secured to the back support together with the bottom front panel. The hinged top and front panel provides another section for assembly and finally the end sections may be formed of the desired design and curvature independently of the remaining part of the casing and hingedly mounted thereon.

Other objects and features of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the piano with the several sections and parts of the casing closed or in playing position. Fig. 2 is the same as Fig. 1 showing one end section with the top and front panel swung to open position. Fig. 3 is an enlarged and perspective view with the end section in closed position. Fig. 4 is the same as Fig. 3 showing it in open position. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a portion of one of the end sections removed from the back support. Fig. 6 is a section through the fallboard showing it in closed position. Fig. 7 is the same showing it in retracted open position.

In the drawings there is illustrated a piano having an upright back support III to which the usual string plate II is secured carrying strings l2. Removably secured to the frame of the back support by the screws I3 there is a horizontal, forwardly extending frame H which is braced to the back frame by a brace l5 and supported forwardly thereof by the piano legs IS. The forward portion of said frame comprises the keybed 11 carrying the keys l8 and the piano action It].

The end portions or sections of the casing are removably and hingedly mounted at 20 to the end members of the upright back support l0. They comprise, as illustrated herein, a top panel M and a bottom panel 22 between which extends a curved end panel 23, which curved end panel forms the end of the casing and the side portions of the front of the casing.

Intermediate the panels 2| of the end sections there is pivotally mounted at the rear of the back support a top section comprising a top panel 24 and a front panel 25 which may be swung from closed position as shown in Fig. l to open position as shown in Fig. 2.

The end sections as well as the intermediate section may be suitably formed in any contour and of any finish, the end section shown herein being substantially U-shaped in cross section by bending and forming veneer plywood suitably reinforced, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The formed veneer of the end sections is built upon and supported by a frame work comprising hinged interior uprights 26 and the oppositely disposed uprights 21 to which the opposite edges of the veneer are secured and which are secured to the bottom panel 22 and the top panel 2| througha reinforcing rib 28.,

A suitable notch, indicated at 29, having an off- For receiving the notched portion of the end sec tion (Fig. 4), the music rest board 3|, as Well as the edge of the horizontalframe l4, .is'provided with a curved slot 32. When swung to closed position, the upper portionof the notch andoffset may drop down into the upper curved portion of the slot, as shown bvdo'tted lines in a Fig. 3. This arrangement is such that the hinges,

as shown in Fig. 5, and the depth of the notch 29 permit the end sections to be first lifted free from the slot 32 and then swung outwardly on their set indicated at 30, is provided ineach of the end sections for clearing the horizontal frame I4 or the piano bed extending forwardly therefrom.-

casing comprising a pair of oppositely disposed end sections attached to the ends of said backboard, each section including top and bottom panels joined by a forwardly and inwardly curved wall hinged to the end of the backboard so as to swing'to open and closed position relative thereto,

andan intermediate top and front panel section having its rear edge hinged to the upper edge of diate said end sections.

the backboard for covming the same finterme I ..3. An'upright Piano structure embodyingan upright backboard, a horizontally extending keybed-having its rear end supported thereby, and

a pair of oppositely disposed end panel sections removably mounted vertically of said backboard and'extendin'g forwardly and inwardly of sai keybed. V

hinges. To pe'rmit themto be thus lifted, the

bottom I edge of the notch is correspondingly spaced from the bottom of the horizontal frame when incl'osed position so as to allowupwardmovement of the sections sufliciently to clear the slot 32 As further showniin Fig. 5, the end sections may be readily removed from the upright back frameor assembled thereon. v

' shown in Fig. 6, the fallboard for enclosing the keys 18, comprises three sections slidably mounted between the end panels of the keybed' and between the rear portion of the horizontal frame and the musicsupport. The rear section of the 'iallboard, as indicated at 33, is hollow and box-li-kefor slidably supporting and receiving the forwardsectio'n 3'! which in turn is provided with v a drop lip 35. When thefallboard is extended to closed position, the section 33 is pulled out from under the music support 3 I, in which position it is limited by suitable stops. The section 34 is further'; pulled forwardly from within the section-33, and is similarly limited in "its' f'orward movement by a stop rail 36. Thereupon the hinged lip "35 is dropped downwardly over the forward ends of the keys 1B, In opening the fall'board, the lip 35 is raised to horizontal position about its hinged mounting J1 and is slid back with the section 34 until the latter-telescopes within the portion 33.

Thereupon all sections are slid back under the music supportdl to-fully expose the keys, as illustrated'in Fig, 2. Y

r The invention claimed is:

V 1. 'hn upright piano structure embodying "an upright backboard, and a casing therefor, said upright backboard, and'a casing therefor, said -4. Anupright piano structure embodying an upright backboard, a horizontally extending keybed having its rear end supported thereby, a pair of oppositely disposed end panel sections removably'mounted vertically of said backboard and extending forwardly and "inwardly of said keybed,

and an intermediately disposed top panel section 'hingedly mounted horizontally of said backboard said end panel sections. 7 5, An upright piano structure embodying an upright backboard, a horizontally extendingikeybed having its rear end supported thereby, a pair of oppositely disposedend panel sections mounted vertically of said backboard extending forwardly and inward-1y of said keybed, and means for hingedly and removably mounting said end panel sections on said backboard for permitting them to be swung to and from closed position relative th'el'td.

61in uprightpiano structure embodying :an upright backboard, a horizontally extending key bedhav ing its rear end supported thereby, a pair of oppositely disposed end panel sections remov-,

ably mounted as a unit vertically of said backboard adjacent each 'end thereof, each of said sections extending forwardly and inwardly of said key bed to provide the ends and parts of the front oi the piano casing, and means provided on said keybed adapted to interlock with said end lpanel sections vrespectively'Tt'o retain closed position, V. g

7. An upright piano structure embodying an upright backboard, a horizontally extending keybed having its rear .end supported thereby, a pair of oppositely disposed end panel sections, each including a top, end and. front casing walls, hinges iorjpivotai-ly supporting each section to its respective end of the backboard adapted to v permit relative 'vertic'ai movement thezebetween,

each section having a notch in its. forward edge adapted to embracethekeybed when in closed mition'and a groove formed in the upper sur-v face-of the keybed for receiving the corresponding upper portion of the notch when in closed position while permitting said section to be lirted bodily from eng-agement therewith and swung to open position. V

. ,7 CYRIL FARNY.

them in forward 

